Former Grand Prix racer Mika Salo has set his sights on making his Bathurst 1000 debut with Ford Performance Racing at this year’s great race.

The 46-year-old Finn has competed in the V8 Supercars Championship’s Gold Coast 600 international co-driver event format for the last three years, winning last year’s Sunday race with FPR driver Will Davison (pictured).

Salo is getting his first taste of the iconic Mount Panorama circuit for the first time this weekend, racing a Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 at the annual Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race.

Having impressed in his three outings with Ford Performance Racing, Salo is hopeful that he can land a co-driver gig at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 events, if he is able to juggle his other motorsport commitments.

Salo currently serves as a TV commentator for the Finnish MTV3 network, as well as serving on the rotating roster of former drivers who serve on the FIA panel of stewards at the Grands Prix. The Bathurst 1000 clashes with the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

"I talked with FPR last year and we decided I’d do Bathurst also, and the only way to learn the circuit for me was to come and do the 12 Hour race," Salo told the Speed Cafe website.

"I’d hope I could do all three races (Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast) if I could under the rules, but there is some clashes with the Formula 1 and I have some commitments there. But I hope I can get around those."

Ford Performance Racing is yet to finalise its endurance racing driver line-up, although it is expected that three of its four available co-driver seats will be occupied by FPR stalwarts Dean Canto and Steven Richards, along with Dunlop Series frontrunner Chaz Mostert.